Fine vortex structure and flow transition to the geostrophic regime in rotating Rayleigh-B\'enard convection

Abstract

We present spatial-resolved measurements of the columnar vortex structures in rotating Rayleigh-B\'enard convection. The scaled radial profiles of the azimuthal velocity $u_{\phi}(r)$ and vertical vorticity ${\omega}(r)$ of the vortices are analyzed and compared with the predictions of the asymptotic theory. The results reveal that the asymptotic theory predicts accurately $u_{\phi}(r)$ and ${\omega}(r)$ in the geostrophic convection regime, but extension of the theory in the weak rotation regime is needed to interpret the rotation-dependence of the experimental data. Our measurements of the mean velocity, vorticity of the vortices, and the strength of the vortex shield structure all indicate a flow transition from weekly rotating convection to geostrophic convection. Results of the parameter values for the transition are in agreement with the scaling relationship obtained from previous heat-transfer measurements.